Fluorocarbon compounds and preparation of same



Patented July 21, 1953' FLUOROCARBON COMPOUNDSLAND PREPARATION "OF I pomfieuof Delaw No Drawing? Application-1 line 29, .1950,

' Serial-No. 171344" .This invention relates .to new organic": compounds 'containingnitrtogen and fluorine: and. more particularly, to .a'new class of fiuorinated amines and a method of .preparingthem'.

' In spite of the great technicalinterest in fluo rinated organic compounds and of the considerable advances made-in their chemistry in the last few years, .thechemicalliterature contains almostv no. description of fluorinated aliphatic amines.' .In particular, long chain (five or more carbonatoms) aliphatic primary amines having several carbon atoms.. completely substituted by fluorine atoms are-unknown, and thereare no known general or evenespecifiemethods of preparing these amines... 1 An object ofthe present invention is toprovide a. new class of fluorinated aminesanda method of preparing same. 'A more particular object is to providev a class .of .fluorinated amines which are highly effective as surface-activev or dispersing agents. Other objects will be apparent from the description of theinvention given hereinafter. The above objects are accomplished-according to the present invention by providing, as a new class of fluorocarbon compounds, theprimary amines having. the formula} H(CEg).gC .H I\II-Ig wherein n i an even integer at least equal to 4, and the water-soluble acid salts thereof. The preferred compounds are theamines havingthe above formula wherein. n is an even integerfrom 4 to 20, lusive, and the water-solub e acid salts thereof, A. still more. nr ierred'suberoun because of the exceptional-properties, of the members'as di persin agents; are the amines: wherein n is an even-integer fromv 6 to. 12, imzlusive,v and, particularly, the water-.solubleacid salts of these amines.

Thelinvention further comprises the process I scum. (o1. ace-5.8a):

wherein n has the same significanca-as above. These polyfluoroalkanols are themselves obtained, according to copending application Serial No. 65,063, now Patent No. 2,559,628, filed by R. Joyce on December 13,1948, by heatinga mixture of'methanol and tetrafluoroethylene at a temperaturebetween '15. C. and 350 C., in the presence of a free 'radicalproducingcatalyst;v

To prepare the polyfluoroalkyl amines, the

'polyfluoroalkanoic acids=arefirst convertedxto the acid halides, preferably acid chlorldeszandfthe acidhalides are reacted with ammoniaitorform the corresponding polyfluoroalkanoic acid amides. The amides are-then'treated in an-anhydrons medium with a, reducing agentfcapablfofi'hydrogenating the amido carbonyl group to a methylene group, thus producing the polyfiuoroalkyl amines, which are isolated by suitable means. w The polyfluoroalkyl amines of the. formula H(CF )-nC -I2. H;; differ sharply from the corresponding alleyl amines of theformula 7 .mciancrnmio For example, they are only. weakly basic:

even more striking difference. lies in the *facizthat, on diazotization, theyxleadi directly to diazofluoroialkanes, rather than decomposing to. the corresponding alcohol and nitrogen, as is the rulewith aliphatic amines. The polyfluoroalkyl' amines having seven or-more carbon atoms, andparticm larly-those within therange of sevento thirteen carbon atoms, are excel1ent2cationic5 surface;-

of preparing the above defined amines by -reacting the corresponding:polyfluoroalkanoic. acid amide, H(CF2)1|.CONH2, with a; reducing agentin a liquid inert anhydrous. "solvent to reduce the amido carbonyl group'of the acid amide; to a methylene'group. v V

The polyfiuoroalkanoic acid amide from which the amines of this inventioii are prepared; are themselves conveniently prepared from the polyfluoroalkanoic acid of the formula H(CF2-)1|.GO0H- Acids ofthis type may be prepared according tofthe general method described in copending application Serial No.'- 6 5,065, now Patent No. 2,559,629; filedfby K. L. 4 Berry 0111 December 13", 1948; This method consists in oxidizing; with a 'permanganateasthe oxidiaingagent, a polyactive agents in the form of their: waterisoluble acid salts. In particular, these surface a'ctive- Example. .I.

A -mixture" of 11 parts of octafluoropentanoic aCid; V H'(.CF2)'4COOI-1, 8 partsof th-lonylchloride, and 2 drop of pyridine, was heated to-refluxjor one hour. during which time hydrogen chloride was evolved; Distillation of the reaction'product gave-9 parts (76% yield)- of octafluoropentanoyl chloride, B. P. 84.6 creas -c.

-Octafluoropentanoyl chloride ('9 parts)- was added dropwise with coolingand stirring to 23 parts-hf. 23%;;ammonixim y r xid c aflu rova-leramide precipitated as a; white solid; (1.? parts; yield) whichwould-be recrystallized AnaZ.-Calcd. for CQHEFlGNI F, 70.5; N, 3.25; neutralization equivalent, 431.1. Found: F, 71.4; N, 3.29; neutralization equivalent, 442.5. The. hydrochloric acid salt of hexadecafluorononylamine was a white solid soluble in water to the extent of about 0.5%.

AnaZ.Calcd. for C9HsF1sC1N: F,'65.1; N, 2.99;

' "Cl, 7.59. Found: F, 65.8; N, 3.08; Cl, 7.54.

To 5 .5 parts pf dodecafluoroheptanoic acid,

being cooled in a solid carbon dioxide-acetone. bath. There was some sparking at the beginning of the reaction. After completion of the addition, the mixture was allowed to come to 7 room temperature to insure more complete reaction, then it was again cooled in a carbon dioxide-, acetone bath. To the cooled reaction mixture I was added dropwis 100 parts of water, which again caused sparking in the beginning. 'The.

resulting gelatinous mixture was filtered, the solid residue stirred-withlOO parts of water and filtered and both filtrates were combined. The water layer in the combined filtrate was separated from the ether layer and extracted with 70 parts of ether. The ether portions were combined, dried and distilled. There was obtained 19 parts (51.7% yield) of octafluoroamylamine, H(CF2)4CH2NH2, boiling at 123 C.-124 C. at atmospheric pressure.

AnaZ.-Calcd. for CSHsFsNt F, 65.7; N, 6.06; neutralization equivalent, 231.1. Found: F, 65.8; N, 6.06 neutralization equivalent, 231.1.

Theamine is a clear, colorless liquid, slightly basic and of limited solubility in water. Itshydrochloride is water soluble but insoluble in dilute hydrochloric acid.

Example]! A mixture of 25 parts of hexadecafluorononanoic acid H(CF2) sCOOH, and 11.65 parts of phosphorus 'pentachloride was melted together and refluxed for 30 minutes after the exothermic reaction had subsidedj The liquid reaction product was cooled and added dropwise to 90 parts of 28% ammonium'hydroxide with stirring and cooling in ice. A white, soapy, unfllterable gel formed. The reaction mixture was then made acidic with concentrated hydrochloric acid and-cooled, which made it filterable. The. solid thus obtained, a mixture. of amide, and. acid, was triturated in 100 parts of water just made alkaline with ammonia, andthe. resulting mixture was filtered to give the solid amide, which was taken up in 400 parts of boiling toluene. This solution waspfiltered and the solvent partly evaporated. On cooling, there was obtained 12 parts (48% yield) of white leaflets of hexadecafluorononanoic acid amide, M. P. 143 C.-145 C.

, AncL-Calcd. for C9H3F16ONI F, 68.2; N, 3.14. Found: F, 70.2; N, 2.95.

A solution of .12 parts of hexadecafluorononanoic acid amide in 105 parts of absolute diethyl ether was added to a stirred, nitrogen-blanketed solution of 3.1 parts of lithium aluminum hydride in 315 parts of absolute diethyl ether while cooling to the temperature of a solid carbon dioxideacetone mixture. The reaction took place smoothly and the addition was completed within 30 minutes. The reaction mixture was then heated to reflux for 45 minutes, then cooled and treated with 100 parts of water. The resulting mixturewas steam-distilled and the organic layer in the distillate was separated, dried and distilled. There was obtained 7' parts (60% yield) of hexadecafluorononylamine, H(CF2)3CH2NH2, B. P. 86

(Pi- 9 a r ure.

Example III l-fic FzleCOoHh-was added 3.3 parts of phos- .phorus pentachloride. After the exothermic reaction had subsided, the mixture was brought to reflux, then cooled and added slowly to parts ,of 28% ammonium hydroxide. The precipitate whichformed was filtered, washed with 50 parts of water and dried. There was thus obtained 5.3

parts (96.8% yield) of dodecafluoroheptanoic acid amide, M. P. 118419 C.

By reacting 23.6 parts of dodecafluoroheptanoic acid amide with 7.86 parts of lithium aluminum hydride in anhydrous ether as described in Example II, there was obtained 9.8 parts (43.2%

B. P. 68 C.-69 C. at 25 mm. pressure.

Anal.Calcd. for C7H5F1ZNZ N, 4.23; neutralization equivalent, 331.1 Found: 4.34; neutral ization equivalent, 332. v

'It will be understood that theabove examples are merely illustrative and that the present invention broadly comprises the primary polyfluoroalkyl amines having the formula I-I(CF2) nCHZNHZ wherein n is an even'integer at least equal to 4, and the water-soluble acid salts thereof, and the process of preparing-these amines from the corresponding"polyfluoroalkanoic acid amides.

The preparationof the amides of this invention other than those of'the examples may be readily accomplished by following the indicated procedure starting with the polyfluoroalkanoic acid corresponding to the desired amine. Other amines of this invention in addition to those of theexamples are? eicosafluoroundecyl amine, H CFi) 10CH2NH2Q tetracosafluorotridecyl amine, H CF2) 12CH2NH2; dotriacontafluoroheptadecyl amine, I-I(CF2)1-e'CH2NH2;- and tetracontafluoroheneieosyl amine, 'H(CF2) 2oCH2NI-I2. The more accessible and therefore preferred amines of this class are. those wherein the integer n has even values from 4 to 20, for the reason that the corresponding polyfluoroalkanoic acids used as starting materials are more readily obtainable. Still more preferred are the amines wherein n is an even integer from 6 to 12, for the already noted reason that these .amines, in the form of their water-soluble salts (e. g., hydrochlorides, sulfates, phosphates, acetates, and the like) are outstanding dispersing agents, especially useful in the direct preparation of polymer dispersions by polymerization of ethylenic monomers in aqueous systems. This is shown, for example, by the following which. ethylene was polymerized in an aqueous system comprising hexadecafluorononylamine hydrochloride as the dispersing agent:

,A solutionof .-1 part of hexadecafluorononylamine hydrochloride in 200 ,parts of copper-free.

deoxygenated waterwas charged into a rocking autoelayehaving acapacity of 1500 parts by volume, together with 0.5 partof a,a'-azobis- (diisobutyramidin e) hydrochloride, 3. watersoluble'azo initiator. The autoclave was flushed with nitrogen, evacuated, pressured with ethylene required about 2 hours.

at 900-1000 -atm., then rocked at 65C. until about 100 atm. of ethylene had been absorbed, which There was obtained a fluid, milky dispersion of ethylene polymer, containing 17.5% total solids. Electron photomicrographs showed that the polymer particles were spheroidal and about 0.5 micron in diameter.

The degree of water solubility of the salts of these amines will vary greatly. As shown above, relatively slight water-solubility, e. g., one part of the salt in 200 parts of water is sufiicient for the salt to function as an excellent dispersing agent and even a lesser degree of water-solubility is not objectionable. However, to function as dispersing agents the salts must have some appreciable degree of water-solubility, a common characteristic possessed by the salts of the preferred amines with such usual acids as hydrochloric, sulfuric,

phosphoric, and acetic acids.

In the process of this invention, the polyfiuoroalkanoic acid amide may be reacted with any hydrogenating agent capable of reducing the amido carbonyl group to a methylene group. Amides are known to be resistant to hydrogenation and the use of a powerful reducing agent is in general necessary. Among these may be mentioned sodium amalgam and aluminum amalgam.

Lithium aluminum hydride and sodium boro-.

hydride are particularly efiective.

' Any inert anhydrous solvent for the reactants is suitable, including for example ethers such as di-n-propyl ether, di-n-butyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, etc.; hydrocarbons such as cyclohexane, benzene, toluene; and heterocyclics such as pyridine and tetramethylene cyclic sulfone.

To insure more complete reaction, the reducing agent is preferably used in excess over the stoichiometric amount, although that is not essential. Desirably, there is used between 1.5 and 5 equivalents of reducing agent relative to the polyfluoroalkanoic acid amide. Normally, the reaction is carried out at atmospheric pressure but this is a matter of convenience and is not critical. For purposes of control, the reactants separately dissolved in the selected anhydrous solvent will preferably be combined gradually with the reaction mixture maintained in a cooling bath below 0 C. Thereafter, the reaction mixture can be allowed to come to room temperature or higher to insure more complete reaction. The temperature is not critical in so far as what reaction will take place and simply will be adjusted as a matter of control and safe procedure and insuring that the reaction is reasonably complete.

The polyfiuoroalkyl amine may be isolated from the reaction mixture by'any convenient method, such as solvent extraction followed by distillation, steam distillation, acid extraction and the like. These amines are stable and can be subjected to the usual chemical treatments without deterioration.

The polyfluoroalkylamines of this invention are useful as intermediates in the preparation of polyfluorinated chemicals through the various reactionsof the amine group. They are also useful per se,.or in the form of acid salts, for example, as rodent repellents, corrosion inhibitors, flotation agents, and surface-active agents.

As many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments thereof except as defined in the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. A fluorocarbon compoundfrom the group consisting of the primary polyfiuoroalkyl amines having the formula H(CF2)nCH2NH2 wherein n is an even integer from 6 to 12, inclusive, and the water-soluble acid salts thereof.

2. Dodecafiuoroheptylamine.

3. Hexadecafiuorononylamine.

JAMES ELLIOT CARNAHAN. HERMAN JULIAN SAMPSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,515,246 McBee et a1 July '18, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 583,874 Great Britain Jan. 1, 1947 OTHER REFERENCES Swarts: Rec. Trav. Chim. vol. 28, p. 143 (1909).

Nystrom et al.: J. A. C. S., vol. 70, pp. 3738-40 (1948).

Friedman et al.: A. C. S. 116th Meeting, Abstracts of Papers, Sept. 1949, pp. 5M-6M. 

1. A FLUOROCARBON COMPOUND FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF THE PRIMARY POLYFLUOROALKYL AMINES HAVING THE FORMULA H(CF2)NCH2NH2 WHEREIN N IS AN EVEN INTEGER FROM 6 TO 12, INCLUSIVE, AND THE WATER-SOLUBLE ACID SALTS THEREOF. 